American Society of Landscape Architects

"Adding a lens of decarbonization to our decision-making process will only improve the outcomes of our design work." — Alejandra Hinojosa, Affil. ASLA, and Mariana Ricker, ASLA. ASLA has released Decarbonizing the Design Process: A Phase by Phase Approach for Landscape Architects It was developed by members of the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee: Alejandra Hinojosa, Affil. ASLA, LPA, Inc. Mariana Ricker, ASLA, SWA The guide offers a phase-by-phase structure to decarbonize design through big ideas, strategies, and best practices. It is high-level, offering approaches that can be implemented regardless of project type, scope, and scale. The guide offers decarbonization opportunities for: - Project kickoff - Schematic design - Design development - Construction documents - Construction administration - Operations and maintenance Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/47RrXl1 And for those attending #ASLA2024: Learn more about the guide from Alejandra, Marieke Lacasse, FASLA, GGLO, and Andrew Wickham, ASLA, LPA Design Studios at 2 PM on Tuesday, October 8. Image Credit: ASLA 2021 Professional General Design Honor Award. Atlanta Diaries, Atlanta, Georgia. Perkins&Will / Sahar Coston-Hardy

"Collaborations between landscape architects, specifiers, and product manufacturers can accelerate changes that will reduce our collective impacts" — Amy Syverson-Shaffer, ASLA, and Sasha Anemone, ASLA. ASLA has released Navigating Environmental Product Data: A Guide for Landscape Architects, Specifiers, and Industry Partners The guide was developed by members of the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee: Amy Syverson-Shaffer, ASLA, Landscape Forms Sasha Anemone, ASLA, SALT Landscape Architects The products and materials that landscape architects specify for their projects play a significant role in the overall global warming potential (GWP) of a project. They can also impact biodiversity, air and water quality. The guide outlines how environmental product declarations (EPDs) and other environmental reporting can be used to understand the environmental impacts of landscape materials and products and make decisions to reduce those impacts. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/47RrXl1 For those attending the #ASLA2024 Conference: Learn more about the guide from Amy at 12:30 PM on Monday, October 7 in Practice Basecamp in the EXPO. Use the guide to talk to EXPO exhibitors about EPDs for their products. Image Credit: ASLA 2022 Professional General Design Honor Award. From Brownfield to Green Anchor in the Assembly Square District. Somerville, Massachusetts. OJB / Kyle Caldwell

"Every action we take, every project we construct, and every garden we plant has a carbon footprint." — Chris Hardy, ASLA, PLA, Sasaki ASLA has released Decarbonizing Specifications: A Guide for Landscape Architects, Specifiers, and Industry Partners The guide was developed by members of the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee: Chris Hardy, ASLA, PLA, Senior Associate, Sasaki Alejandra Hinojosa, ASLA, Sustainability Specialist III, LPA, Inc. Bryce Carnehl, Corporate ASLA, Specification Support Manager, Hunter Industries Elizabeth Moskalenko, ASLA, PLA, Trustee, ASLA-NY The goal of these guidelines is to make it easier for landscape architects to more effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions from project design and construction. Sections cover seven key design principles and 18 areas of specification. Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/47RrXl1 And for those attending the #ASLA2024 Conference: Learn more about the guide from Chris and Alejandra at 12.30 PM on Monday, October 7 in Practice Basecamp in the EXPO. Image Credit: ASLA 2022 Professional General Design Excellence Award. Palm Springs Downtown Park. Palm Springs, California. RIOS / Millicent Harvey

The ASLA 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture is almost here, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Washington, D.C.! 🗓️ Get ready by checking out the Schedule at a Glance: https://bit.ly/47QcK3X 🏛️ Looking to explore the city? Discover the ASLA team's favorite D.C. spots: https://bit.ly/3XWF8gb Not registered yet? Don’t miss your chance to earn your continuing education requirements over four exciting days. Join us: https://bit.ly/4dxQpcz Share your conference experiences with #ASLA2024. See you there!

“With climate impacts only worsening, we know we need to change how we design – and make that shift faster,” said April Philips, FASLA, Chair of the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee. “So we got to work, creating substantive how-to’s any landscape architect, specifier, or industry partner can pick up and start using today.” ASLA has released a set of freely-available guides designed to help landscape architects, specifiers, and industry partners achieve the goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan, which includes making the profession zero-emission by 2040. The resources were developed by the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee. New guides: Decarbonizing Specifications Guidelines for Landscape Architects, Specifiers, and Contractors Decarbonizing the Design Process A Phase by Phase Approach for Landscape Architects Navigating Environmental Product Data A Guide for Landscape Architects, Specifiers, and Industry Partners Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://lnkd.in/g2bab5jb Image Credit: Decarbonizing Specifications / ASLA; Featured image: Copley Square, Boston, MA / Sasaki; Decarbonizing the Design Process / ASLA; Featured image: ASLA 2016 ASLA Southern California Chapter Merit Award / Image courtesy of SWA Group, Jonnu Singleton; Navigating Environmental Product Data / ASLA; Featured image: ASLA 2023 Professional GeneralDesign Honor Award. Grand Junction Park and Plaza. Westfield, Indiana. DAVID RUBIN Land Collective / Alan Karchmer #Decarbonize #LandscapeArchitecture #ZeroEmissions

ASLA has released the results of its first national survey on landscape architects’ planning and design work focused on biodiversity. Nearly 300 landscape architects, designers, and landscape architecture educators in the U.S. responded to the survey in July 2024. The survey found that landscape architects use a range of planning and design strategies to increase biodiversity. The top five strategies: - Integrate nature-based design strategies into projects – 63% - Use a large percentage of native plants – 62% - Educate clients, partners, and stakeholders – 47% - Identify eco-region, plant communities, and target species to tailor solutions through site analysis – 47% - Use a rich and layered approach to planting – 38% Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://bit.ly/3BfgsaZ Image Credit: ASLA 2020 Professional General Design Honor Award. The Native Plant Garden at The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, New York. OEHME, VAN SWEDEN | OvS / Ivo Vermeulen #LandscapeArchitecture #Biodiversity #NatureBasedSolutions

“These guides are the practical tools landscape architects have been asking for. They help turn every project into an opportunity to get on a path to zero emissions,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen. “They take our high-level goals and break it down for everyone – showing landscape architects and industry partners how to get there, step by step.” ASLA has released a set of freely-available guides designed to help landscape architects, specifiers, and industry partners achieve the goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan, which includes making the profession zero-emission by 2040. The resources were developed by the ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee. The new guides: Decarbonizing Specifications Guidelines for Landscape Architects, Specifiers, and Contractors Decarbonizing the Design Process A Phase by Phase Approach for Landscape Architects Navigating Environmental Product Data A Guide for Landscape Architects, Specifiers, and Industry Partners Read more in ASLA's THE DIRT: https://lnkd.in/g2bab5jb Image Credit: Decarbonizing Specifications / ASLA; Featured image: Copley Square, Boston, MA / Sasaki; Decarbonizing the Design Process / ASLA; Featured image: ASLA 2016 ASLA Southern California Chapter Merit Award / Image courtesy of SWA Group, Jonnu Singleton; Navigating Environmental Product Data / ASLA; Featured image: ASLA 2023 Professional GeneralDesign Honor Award. Grand Junction Park and Plaza. Westfield, Indiana. DAVID RUBIN Land Collective / Alan Karchmer #Decarbonize #LandscapeArchitecture #ZeroEmissions

Attending the #ASLA2024 Conference in Washington, D.C.? If so, use this conversation guide with EXPO exhibitors. “With this guide in hand, landscape architects can ask industry partners the right questions and move the conversation forward. Getting on the same page will lead to deeper collaboration on how to reduce our collective impacts and improve benefits,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen. “The guide enables us to expand the dialogue on embodied carbon in materials, the sustainable use of products in landscapes, and supporting equity goals in communities,” said April Philips, FASLA, Chair, ASLA Climate Action Committee. Access the guide: https://bit.ly/48YsqC2 Image Credit: Collaborating with Industry Partners on Climate Action and Biodiversity: A Guide to Conversations Among Landscape Architects, Vendors, and Product Manufacturers / ASLA. Cover image: ASLA 2023 Professional Urban Design Honor Award. Town Branch Commons: An Urban Transformation in Lexington, Kentucky. SCAPE, Gresham Smith / SCAPE and Ty Cole

The 2024 ASLA Legacy Project, "Reimagining Community Connections in Anacostia," is enhancing accessibility and celebrating Anacostia as Washington, D.C.’s Arts & Culture District. Through community design workshops, members of the Potomac Chapter ASLA and Maryland Chapter ASLA are collaborating with residents to improve connectivity and strengthen the neighborhood's identity across four key sites. Help bring this vision to life! Donate to support the 2024 Legacy Project when you register for #ASLA2024, and stop by the host chapter booth at the Conference to learn how you can get involved. https://bit.ly/3Bryirq Image Credit: ASLA Legacy Project Team #LandscapeArchitecture #CommunityEngagement #DesignforCommunity

Walter Hood, landscape designer, artist, and educator, has won this year's Vincent Scully Prize. Hood is the creative director and founder of Hood Design Studio a social art and design practice based in Oakland, California. Hood’s work seeks to uncover and strengthen layers of meaning present in all landscapes – ecological, cultural, contemporary and historic. Notable projects include the large-scale garden designs of the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina; the Oakland Museum of California, the M. H. de Young Museum in San Francisco; and the recently opened Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Register for the award presentation and cocktail reception at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. on Friday, October 4 from 6-8 PM. The awards ceremony coincides with the first night of the #ASLA2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture in Washington, D.C. https://lnkd.in/grBa7Fz Tickets are $50 for adults and $20 for students: https://bit.ly/47OL5jE Image Credit: International African American Museum / Esto/Sahar Coston-Hardy; Oakland Museum of California / Caitlin Atkinson; John Robinson Jr. Town Square; Arlington, VA / David Ross; Walter Hood, landscape designer / Adrienne Eberhardt